In the quiet park in Lidcombe, Rebecca Robb, her bright red uniform and PVC pipe 'broom' in hand, is engaged in a battle to keep Quadball alive. This sport, a derivative of Harry Potter's Quidditch, is facing a terminal decline, with its player count dwindling to the point where every match is under threat. The issue is not just the lack of players, but also the cultural shift away from team sports among young people, and the impact of J.K. Rowling's controversial opinions on the sport's inclusivity and values.
Quadball, once a thriving sport with hundreds of players and competitions, has now shrunk to just six clubs in NSW and Canberra, with some having to combine to survive. The sport's decline is a symptom of a broader cultural shift away from communal and earnest pursuits, with young people moving towards individual activities like run clubs and Pilates. This shift is particularly harsh on Quadball, as it was a team sport made for and shaped by millennials who have now outgrown it.
The sport's frayed ties to Rowling, who has been vocal about her anti-transgender campaigning, have also contributed to its decline. The sport's progressive values, which recognize non-binary genders and limit teams to three players per gender, have inspired a deep connection in those who still play it. However, Rowling's rightward shift has clearly had an impact, with a new generation of players not wanting to sign up.
Robb, who has been working to promote the sport and tweak its rules and schedules, is left with 'crazy, twitching eyes' trying to keep it alive. She believes that Quadball will survive, enduring on the hopes of those who still play it, and that if enough people are willing to share the sport, it will be just fine. However, the question remains: can Quadball overcome its terminal decline and find a new generation of players to keep it alive?
